Apparatus for cleaning rolls



Sept. 27, 1960 Filed Feb. 29. 1956 24 t 0 1 a o 6 APPARATUS FOR CLEANINGROLLS 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 l8 INVENTOR GEORGE O. ALEXANDER BY w6 Z ATTORNEYSept. 27, 1960 G. O.-ALEXANDER 2,953,952

- 1 APPARATUS FOR CLEANING ROLLS Filed Feb. 29, 1956' I 7 Sheets-Sheet zINVENTOR GEORGE 0. ALEXANDER E WW ATTORNEY P 27, 1960 G. o. ALEXANDER2,953,952

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING ROLLS Filed Feb. 29. 1956 7 sheets-sheet :5

co '3 K Mpg- AW 3 T g u 2 a .0 I i u m a 9 IN VENTOR GEORGE o. ALEXANDERATTORNEY P 1960 G. o. ALEXANDER 2,953,952

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING ROLLS Filed Feb. 29, 1956 7 Sheets-Sheet 4ATTORNEY INVENTOR GEORGE O. ALEXANDER Sept. 27, 1960 G. o. ALEXANDER 5APPARATUS FOR CLEANING ROLLS Filed Feb. 29, 1956 v 7 Sheets-Sheet 5ATTORNEY Sept. 27, 1960 5. 0. ALEXANDER 2,953,952

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING ROLLS Filed Feb. 29. 1956 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 wil INVENTOR GEORGE O. ALEXANDER v ATTORNEY Sept. 27, 1960 G. o. ALEXANDERAPPARATUS FOR CLEANING ROLLS 7 Sheetls-Sheet '7 mm mm Filed Feb. 29.1956 p .Lmuu

ATTORNEY United States Patent ice 2,953,952 APPARATUS FOR CLEANINGROLLS" George 0. Alexander, Ravenswood, W. Va, assignorio KaiserAluminum 8: Chemical Corporation, Oakland, Calif., a corporation ofDelaware Filed Feb. 29, 1956, Ser. No; 568,466 4 Claims. (Cl. 80-1) Thisinvention relates to rolling mills for theproduction of metal plates,sheets and the like and to means for cleaning the roll surfaces thereof.More particularly, this invention relates to means for controlling theforce exerted by the cleaning means on the roll surfaces.

Heretofore, it has been the usual practice to provide such cleaningmeans with some mechanism for manually controlling the forces exerted bysuch means on the work roll surfaces such as spring and screw means.Such practice possesses certain inherent; disadvantages particularlywith regard to the exertion of unequal forces throughout the axiallength of the cleaning means, The prior art mechanisms, beingofamanually adjustable type, did not provide adequate adjustingcharacteristics. The operators, while adjusting the forces at each endof the cleaning means were unable to exactly ascertain the amount ofadjustment necessary on each extremity. Manifest'ly, in the event theoperators tightened down on the mechanism at one end of the cleaningmeans slightly more than the mechanism at the opposite endof thecleaning means a greater force would 'be applied to the working rolls atone end than at the other; thereby 'ultimately resulting in acorrespondingly greater wear or one portion of the working surface ofthecleanin'g fl'neans than at other portions. It Will be obvious'that:such uneven wear would necessitate more frequent replacements of thecleaning means and acorrespondingly greater amount of lost time for theentire'rollin'g mill .of which the instant invention is an integralpart.

Accordingly, it is the general object of the inst-antinvention to avoidand overcome the foregoing'and other difliculties of and objections toknown clearing means :adjusting mechanisms by the provision of animproved :mechanism for hydraulically controlling the forc'es applied bythe cleaning means to the working roll surfaces *whereby such forces areequal throughout the entire raxial lengthof the workingrolls.

Another important object of "the invention ;is to :pro-

duee an 'automatic lhydraulic'allycontrolled cleaning roll2-incombination with the Working rollof a rolling) mill. A furth'erobject of the inve'ntionyis reproduce-whyvdra'ulicallycontrolledmechanism forcontrolling the force iexertedfb'y the'cleaningmeans of a rolling mill avhich may be" readily zandeconomicallymanufactured.

5 Still another object of the einventioniis'ito :produceahydraulica'llyactuated meansto selectively control -.the ionigagement pressure at.either end :of. a cleaning ,meansxof iafrdlling :mill :in contactwith-an associated zworkingrroll dn sucha manner th'atztheaforceexertedby said cleaning :means :on said working' Io'llsis I equal.throughoutzthevcntire enga'ging or contacting: surface. ,7

Ast'ill' further objectiof 'thCiillVfiIltiOIlflSitG produceahydraulicsystem for laselectively -..controllingethe :.forc.e:.-exaertediby'zacleaning im'eansof :a rollingi milllfor trolling rmetal wliich may the.appliedcto existing roll-ingmills with'riaimiriimumahtbunttdfefiortxaiid costi LThese: and'aothernobjfectsiofthe iiinviention whichyvill -:.-become apparentztfrom-a reading ofthe'idescription of the;

Patented Sept. 27, 1960 2 V invention as set forth in detail hereinafterareachieved by the provision in a rolling mill, the combination ofa baseframe, a pair of cooperating positively driven worltf ing rollsjournaled in said frame, a cleaning means inas s ociation with each ofsaid Working rolls, a of hy-i draulically operated extensible membersfor each of said cleaning means and a hydraulic system for effecting,ing material 28 covering .the outer peripheryt v {The cleaning material.28 may be. comprised of grqups :of radiallylextending bristles.ofsuitable m ate aszmetal, plastics, fibenl etc {which act torj e V -=t0 the upright sections 14 of the ,frame 10 and movement of saidhydraulic cylinder with respect tosaid piston-like member, whereby thecontact pressure between said cleaning rolls and said working rollsateither end of said cleaning means may be selectively controlled.Figure l is a side clevational view with a portion there.- of showninsection-of one stand of a rolling mill ineorporating the instantinvention wherein a rotating brush typev cleaning means is employed. e VV Figure 2 is a frontelevational view, partly in section, of the millstandof Figure l. I

, Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken alongline 33 of Figure 2with portions thereof shown insection, Figure 4 is a sectional view ofthe invention taken alongj line 44 of Figure 3. p Q "Figure 5 is asectional view of the cleaning roll drive assembly taken along line 5 5of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a side 'elevational view, with a portion there- 7 of shown.in section of one stand of a rollingniill invcooperating the instantinvention wherein a stationary type cleaning means is employed. 7

Figure 7 is a schematic illustration of the hydrauliti actuatingcircuit. V v 7 a j a With partieularreference to Figures 1 ;and-2, theneshown the general arrangement of one stand ,of ,a polling mill having abaseframe 10 supporting a pair of cooper,- :ati g Working rol s 2.- eworm-151011.812 a e i ;nal ed in suitable bearings (not shown) [disposedwit U the uprigh e o :1 ;o t e f am :10- Su tab e, :mot'ors (not shown).areprovided to impart rotary zrnotion' to the working rolls 12, Thepower from these such ,amanner that the peripheral surface ar a a e quproll- 18 is in positive contact with itsassociatedworking roll 12 1andserves to reduce the deflection .of the:

working; roll from the loads encountered in' rolling metal.

A substantially horizontaltable 22 .iss'uitably .-vided with a. stripper23 at one end in close proximity to the lower working rolls 1 2,,and a:pluralityof rollers 2 4. }It fV/lll ,be readily .apparent that .the,m11ers, 2 4 vide a support for the metal stock whieh is causejdto passbetween and be flattened by the cooperating pair of work- .ing rolls 12.A secondstr'ipper 25"is providefdi'niclose proximity to' the upperworking roll 12. Strippers- 23 and 25 are provided to remove the rolledmetal from the working rolls '12 to which it'tends to adhere."

i Suitable cleaning --means or devices are -provid'ed, one v for eachofthe working rolls 12. Such cleanin'g' means -may be either -a rotatingtype as 'shown iin zFiguresil through 5 or a stationary type as shown inEigurekfi.

With reference to Figures;1,-2 and,3 saidl-cleaning means M comprises :apair :of cleaning rolls :26 adapted to be in contact with the outerperipheral surface of ,the Orking :rolls' 12. =Said cleaning ,rolls" 26:have ya suitable "3 foreign material which may become adhered to thework contacting surface of the working rolls 12. The cleaning rolls 26are adapted to be driven from suitable motors 16 through a suitableflexible power transmitting apparatus. In an embodiment of thisinvention shown in Figures 1 through 5 such apparatus includes an angledrive assembly 30; an extensible telescoping a cleaning roll driveassembly 36. For purposes of simplicity, the operation will be describedin connection with and specific reference will be made only to the lowercleaning roll 26 and its drive assembly. It is understood that the uppercleaning roll 26 and its associated drive is substantially identicalwith the lower one.

Drive motor 1-6 is suitably mounted on the roll stand base frame and iscoupled to the angle drive assembly 30. The angle drive assembly 30 maybe of any of the conventional types such as for example the gearingarrangement shown in Figure 25, page 12 of Five Hundred and SevenMechanical Movements by Henry T. Brown, 21st ed., 1908, pub. by Brown &Seward, 216 Broadway, New York, NY. The output shaft of the angle driveassembly 30 is coupled to the cleaning roll drive assembly 36 through auniversal joint 34, telescoping shaft 32, and a second universal joint35. The telescoping drive shaft 32 is comprised of an inner and an outermember so arranged as to transmit positive rotary motion while beingcapable of extension or contraction.

As shown in Figure 5, the cleaning roll drive assembly 36 comprises ashaft 38, one end of which is coupled to the second universal joint 35and mounted on bearings 40. The other end of the shaft 38 is providedwith a bevel gear 42. The bevel gear 42 is adapted to mesh with and inturn drive a second bevel gear 44 which is mounted on and suitably keyedto an intermediate shaft 46 which is rotatably supported by bearings 48.A spur gear 50 is also mounted on and suitably keyed to the shaft 46.The spur gear 50 is adapted to mesh with and drive an associated spurgear 52 which is integrally mounted on the axle 54 of the cleaning roll26. It will be noted upon examination of Figure 5 that the axle 54 ofthe cleaning roll 26 is journalled or rotatably supported by bearings 56and 57. The entire cleaning roll drive assembly 36 may be suitablycovered by a housing 58, as clearly shown in connection with the Figures3 and 4. Referring to Figures 3 and 4, it will be seen that the entirecleaning roll drive assembly 36, including the cleaning roll axle 54, issupported by a sliding member 60 which in turn is supported between apair of guide rails 62 and 64. The guide rails 62 and 64 are disposedbeneath the horizontal table 22 and suitably secured to the base frame10. It is to be understood that the member 60 is adapted to slide alonga longitudinal axis between the guide rails 62 and 64.

The member 60 is provided with a cylindrical recess 66 adapted toreceive a piston 68. Near one of the terminal portions of the piston 68,there is formed an annular recessed groove 70 adapted to receive'ahydraulic packing 72. The hydraulic packing 72 fits snugly against theinner surface of the recess 66 and provides a fluid tight seal betweenthe piston 68 and the recess 66. The extreme terminal portion of thepiston 68 is provided with a projection 74 of reduced diameter toprovide an annular space for hydraulic fluid even when the piston 68 hasfully penetrated into the cylindrical recess 66. The terminal portion ofpiston 68 opposite the projection 74 has a cylindrically concave surface76 provided to mate with a mating convex cylindrical end portion 78 of arestraining member 80. The opposite extremity or terminal portion of therestraining member 80 has an aperture 82 formed therein. A removable pin84 is provided to fit through apertures formed in the guide rails 62 and64 and through the aperture 82. straining member 80 is prevented frommoving in a direction away from the piston 68 and likewise, thepis O lshaft 32; and' 68 is prevented from moving in a direction toward theapertin'e 82.

The sliding member '60 is provided with a fluid receiv ing fitting 86which is adapted to form a portion of the conduit for the fluid to bepassed to the cylindrical recess 66. Thus, when oil or otherhydraulicfluid is forced into the opening between the inner wall of thecylindrical recess 66 and the projection 74 of the piston68, the

latter being rigidly fixed against longitudinal movement, the pressureexerted by the incoming fluid will cause the sliding member 60 and itsassociated axle 54 of the cleaning roll 26 to move toward its associatedworking roll 12 of the mill stand.

With particular reference to Figure 3, it will be seen that the oppositeterminal portion of the cleaning roll axle 54 from that describedhereinabove is supported by suitable bearings 88 which in turn arecarried by a sliding member 90 similar to the sliding member 60 of thecleaning roll drive assembly 36. The slide member 90 is provided forsliding engagement between a pair of guide rails 92 and 94, similar tothe guide rails 62 and 64 mentioned hereinabove. The sliding member 90is provided with a cylindrical recess 96 in the end portion Thus, therethereof. A piston 98, similar to piston 68, is received within therecess 96 and a restraining member 100 similar to the restraining memberis employed in conjunction therewith. The sliding member is providedwith a fluid receiving conduit provided for the passage of fluid intothe cylindrical recess 96. It is to be understood that the slidingassemblies for supporting and effecting the sliding movement of bothterminal portions of the cleaning roll axle 54 are essentially the same.

The operation of the piston 98, the sliding member 90, and therestraining member is substantially the same as the operation of thecorresponding elements acting on the opposite end of the cleaning rollaxle 54, such that when fluid is forced into the cylindrical recess 96through the fluid receiving fitting 102, the respective end of thecleaning roll 26 is moved toward the working roll 12.

Manifestly, in light of the above description, it is readily discerniblethat movement of either or both ends of the cleaning roll axle 54can beelfected by forcing a hydraulic fluid into the respective cylindricalrecesses 66 and 96, through the fittings 86 and 102, respectively. Forpurposes of clarification it is to be understood that a description ofthe upper assemblies for effecting movement of the cleaning rolls towardtheir associated working rolls is not deemed necessary inasmuch as theapparatus and operation thereof is substantially identical with thatdescribed above.

While rotating type cleaning means have been shown and described aboveit is to be distinctly understood that stationary type cleaning meansmay be employed. With reference to Figure 6 said stationary cleaningmeans comprises a pair of stationary cleaning members 27 adapted to bein contact with the outer peripheral surface of the working rolls 12.Said cleaning members 27 may comprise a channel type member 29 of asuitable material preferably metal, and having a contact member such asa wooden board or plank 19 contained therein. Such wooden board or plank19 may be applied directly to the surface of the working rolls 12 or asuitable bufling of cleaning material may be applied to said woodenboard or plank 19. In lieu of a wooden board or plank a suitablestationary brush means could be employed for contacting the surface ofworking rolls 12. Such brushes may be fabricated of any suitablematerial such as metal, plastic, fiber, etc., which act to remove anyforeign material which may become adhered to the Work contacting surfaceof the working rolls 12. One end of cleaning member 27 may be supportedby a sliding member 60 which in turn is supported between a pair ofguide rails 62 and 64. The guide rails 62 and 64 are disposed beneaththe horizontal table 22 and suitably secured to the base frame 10. It isto be understood that the memconcave surface provided-to mate with amating convex cylindrical end portion of a-"restrarning member 80,identical to the rest-raining ni'erfiber'80= shown-in Figures 1 through5.. Restraining member 80' is 'mbunt'ed-within guide rails 62 and 64111the samernanner as" previsusr described in connection withtheembodinient o'f tl'iis'invention shown in' Figures through '5. Theopposite end of stationary cleaning member 27 is supported by' aslidingmember similar to sliding member 90 ofthe previously describedembodiment which sliding member is supported and operated in themanner'asdscr-ibed above. The operation'of the sliding member 60' andthe sliding member similar to member 90' is substantially the same asthe operation of the corresponding elements described above inconnection with the embodiment shown in Figures 1 through 5, such thatwhen fluid is forced into the cylindrical recessesthroughthefiuidreceiving fittings the respective end of the stationary cleaningmemberis moved toward the Working roll 12.

As can be seen from the drawings, guide rails 62, 64, 92 and 94 aremounted'on their respective upright sections 14 independently fromhorizontal table 22 and stripper 23. Similarly, the upper guide rails62' and 64' are mounted on upright sections 14 independently fromstripper 25'. In practice'guide rails or guiding members 62, 64, 92 and94 may be mounted on horizontal table 22, while upper guide rails orguiding members 62 and 64 may be mounted on stripper 25,however,.independent mountings are preferable.

Operation of the cleaning means of this invention, e.g. cleaning rolls22, or stationary cleaning members 27 results in wearing down thecleaning material whereby periodic replacement becomes necessary. Withparticular reference to Figures 3 and 4 the method for removing cleaningrolls 26 involves first removing pins 84 and 103. Restraining members 80and 100 may then be removed permitting sliding members 60 and 90 to bemoved along guide rails 62, 64, 92 and 94 away from working rolls 12. Bycontinuing the movement of slidingmembers 60 and 90 past the end ofguide rails 62, 64, 92 and 94 furthest removed from working rolls 12,e.g. the left end as shown in Figure 1, sliding members 60 and 90 andthe associated cleaning roll 26 may be removed from the rolling mill.The worn cleaning roll 26 may then be easily removed from slidingmembers 60 and 90 and replaced by a new cleaning roll 26. By reversingthe above procedure sliding members 60 and 90 may be engaged in guiderails 62, 64, 92 and 94, restraining members 80 and 100 replaced andpins 84 and 103 replaced.

While replacement of cleaning rolls 26 of the embodiment of thisinvention shown in Figures 1 through 5 has been specifically describedabove it is to be understood that stationary cleaning members 27 of theembodiment shown in Figure 6 may be replaced in the same manner.

Attention is now directed to Figure 7 which illustrates a suitablehydraulic system for effecting the desired control and adjustment of thecleaning rolls 26 relative to their associated working rolls 12. Thehydraulic circuit is described only in connection with one of therolling mill stands, the circuits for the other stands being sub- 7stantially identical thereto. A'pump 104 driven by a motor 105 isprovided to pump a hydraulic fluid contained within a fluid reservoir106 through a fluid conductor pipe sto a lieader'110. The pipe 108filayl be firfi-t ,vid'ed with a relief valve 112. A'plurality offluidiconduits oripipes 114, corresponding in number to;the;num-

ber of mill stands to be controlled, 'are conn'ectedutonbe 5 header 110and each lead to -a 'T joint. 116' which 'adapted'to-dividethefluid'fiow ateachmill stand assembly, one half of the fluidbeing'permitted to pass to the upper portion ofthe m-i ll stand and the'remaining .ambunt of flifid'-being permitted to' pass to-the lowerportion. TFor 10 "of I simplificatio ="only the lower 1 portion" of themill stand assembly be discussed to; correspond :to "the foregoingdescription o'f the apparatus. "Those iparts =61? the hydra'ulic'syst mrying the-u per portion-of the 'iiiill sfand'asseinbly whichare-identical to corresponding fiartsseriring the lower portion of themillslta'nd .assernbly havejid'rit'ical fiunierals with the rimedesignation adad herete: I I

A fluid eoinu'it or pipe 118' is connected to the lower part of the Tjoint I16 and is adapted 'to entend't'o another T joint"12'0' which isprovided to divide the fluid flowing-through the pipe "1 18 intofluid'condui-tsor pipe's' 12-2 and 124. The pipe 122 is connectedtotheflii'id" receiving fitting through a suitable pressure reducing valve-26 and T joint 127 and the pipe 124 is connected to the fluid receivingfitting 102 through a suitablepressure reducing "valve 128 and the Tjoint 1 29. From each'T joint 1 27 and 129 'a fluid conduit 131 and-133, passes therefrom through suitable fixed orifices 130 and 132 toconstantly bleed aportion of the hydraulic fluid back to"the*hydraulicfluid reservoir 106. Also, avalve'134- may be provided in the'pip'e 118to completely restrict the flow 'or passage of fluid therethrough. i Itmay beread'ily ascertained from the above'd'escrip- 'tion that pressuremay be selectively applied 'to -ei thcr or both ends or the cleaningroll aide 54 by adjusting the respective pressure reducing valves126'a'rid 128. This result 'iseif e cted due to the fact that increasingthe pressure of thehydratilicfiuid'passing'to a given 'fiuid receivingfitting tends to increase the pressure within the respective cylindricalrecess thereby forcing the respective sliding member and its respectiveend of the cleaning roll axle 54 toward the working roll 12 of the mill.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained theprinciples and mode of operation of my invention, and have illustratedand described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment.ever, I desire to'have it understood that, within the scope of theappended claims, the invention may be 5t) practiced otherwise than asspecifically illustrated and,

described.

What is claimed is: 1. In a rolling mill comprising a base frame, a pairof cooperating working rolls journalled in said frame,

and a cleaning device operatively associated witheach of said workingrolls, said cleaning device comprisinga cleaning roll, journal means oneach end of said cleaning roll, a pair of sliding members one mountingeach of said journal means and slidably supported by a pair of 6Oguiding members afiixed to said frame, each of said sliding membershaving a cylindrical recess which receives a piston-like member having aportion which extends out of said cylindrical recess to engage arestraining member pivotally atfixed to said frame, a motor impart mgrotary motion to sald cleaning roll and fluid pressure means includingmeans for equalizing the pressure to each said sliding member forefiecting movement of said sliding member with respect to its associatedpiston-like;

member whereby the contact pressure between said clean-' ing rolls andsaid working rolls at either end of said cleaning rolls may beselectively controlled and the pres equalized along the entire lengthsof said cleaning rolls.

How-

sure exerted by said cleaning rolls on said working rolls") hydraulicfiuid reservoir connected to the suction of said pumping means, a fluidconduit connecting the delivery -of said pumping means to a header, aplurality of fluid conduits each of which passes from said headerthrough a pressure reducing valve followed by a T joint to each of saidcylindrical recesses, each T joint having a fluid conduit passingtherefrom through a fixed orifice to said hydraulic fluid reservoir.

3. A rolling mill cleaning device of the type described comprising incombination with a pair of cooperating working rolls journalled in aframe, a roll cleaning device cooperatively associated with each of saidworking rolls, said cleaning device comprising a cleaning roll, journalmeans on each end of said cleaning roll, said cleaning roll beingmovable into and out of peripheral engagement with a working roll, meansfor supporting said cleaning roll adjacent said working roll secured tosaid journal means and slidably supported with respect to said framewhereby said journal means and cleaning roll will also be slidablysupported with respect to said frame, said slidably supported meansincluding a sliding member provided with a cylindrical recess, apiston-like member inserted in said recess and having a portion whichextends out of said recess, a pivotally mounted restraining memberengageable with said last mentioned portion projecting from said recess,said restraining member also being pivotally afiixed to said frame,means including a telescopic drive means for rotating said cleaning rolland a fluid pressure means including means for equalizing the pressureto each said sliding member for effecting movement of said slidingmember with respect to said pistonlike member whereby the contactpressure between the cleaning roll and the Working roll at either end ofsaid cleaning roll may be selectively controlled and the contactpressure along the entire length of said cleaning roll equalized withrespect to said working roll.

4. In a rolling mill comprising a base frame, a pair of cooperatingworking rolls journalled in said frame and a cleaning device operativelyassociated with each of said working rolls, said cleaning devicecomprising a cleaning means, a pair of mounting means one on each end ofsaid cleaning means, a pair of sliding members one mounting each of saidmounting means and slidably supported by a pair of guiding membersaflixed to said frame, each of said sliding members having a cylindricalrecess which receives a piston-like member having a portion whichextends out of said cylindrical recess to engage a restraining memberpivotally affixed to said frame, and fluid pressure means includingmeans for equalizing the pressure to each said sliding member foreffecting movement of said sliding member with respect to its associatedpiston-like member whereby the contact pressure between said cleaningmeans and a working roll at either end of said cleaning means may beselectively controlled and the pressure exerted by said cleaning meanson said working roll equalized along the entire length of said cleaningmeans.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS598,784 Hughes Feb. 8, 1898 1,401,773 Haldeman Dec. 27, 1921 1,689,656Williams Oct. 30, 1928 1,761,268 Maclennan June 3, 1930 1,994,691 Da'nlet a1 Mar. 19, 1935 2,049,842 Kling Aug. 4, 1936 2,107,541 Long Feb. 8,1938 2,267,380 Tyler Dec. 23, 1941 2,332,859 Kreissig et a1 Oct. 26,1943 2,391,499 Yoder Dec. 25, 1945 2,617,320 Peila Nov. 11, 19522,673,521 Huber Mar. 30, 1954 2,680,938 Peterson June 15, 1954 2,690,765Krummel Oct. 5, 1954 OTHER REFERENCES A Manual of Mechanical Movements,W. M. Clark, pages 53 and 182.

